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The Barrys are back in Martigny

The Saint Bernards from the Barry Foundation spent 118 enjoyable days in their original homeland up on the Great Saint Bernard pass this summer. They are now spending the winter in Martigny, where the hospice dogs can be visited in the Saint Bernard museum.

Following in the steps of their forefathers, approximately half of the Saint Bernards from the Barry Foundation spent the summer up on the Great Saint Bernard pass. “The summer of 2014 may not have been the best of summers”, reports Manuel Gaillard, who is in charge of the dogs, “but our Saint Bernards nonetheless enjoyed their stay up on the Great Saint Bernard pass, since they were able to romp around extensively.

Thousands of visitors came to see the representatives of the Swiss national dog at the hospice kennel area. “There were all kinds of activities for the dogs to experience: going on walks with the animal keepers and hikes with guests, learning new tricks, having a cuddle with some of the young participants in the therapeutic camps and taking part in the Barry Certificate, the pack dog competition organised by the Barry Foundation,” explains Ruedi Thomann, Managing Director of the foundation.

The walks with Saint Bernards were extremely popular amongst guests again this year. Approximately 730 people took part in the excursions, a good third of whom were children. “There was never a dull moment for the dogs up on the Great Saint Bernard pass”, recalls dog keeper Jennifer Billot. “They met countless members of the public and readily let themselves be stroked and photographed. They also accompanied people on walks. All in all, they made sure that a trip to the Great Saint Bernard pass was a wonderful experience that visitors will never forget.”

Since then, our Saint Bernards have moved back down to their winter quarters in Martigny. Since 2 October, the pack has been complete once more, back to its current level of 34 dogs. Its youngest member is 6 month old Jade.Dog lovers can meet Saint Bernard dogs all year round at the "Musée et Chiens" Saint Bernard museum, where they can look on as the animals romp around freely in the outdoor enclosure.